Design for Dogs

You might call Milla Cowardin a diamond in the "ruff." After working for years for French jeweler and watchmaker Cartier, she and her husband, Brandon, embarked (with an emphasis on the bark) on a completely new and different career path. The certified gemologists opened Posh Pets in Brandermill's Market Square.

The pet-centric boutique offers a multitude of merchandise, but the center of attention is the Bow Haus, stylish canine quarters with a name that offers a whimsical nod to the German Bauhaus movement of modernist architecture. The crates were developed by a Toronto-based company that now produces them in India. Milla describes the Bow Haus as "the hip alternative to the traditional pet crate." Made of galvanized steel, the sleek, contemporary crate is cylindrical, and with its flat top, it's stylish enough to function as an end table.

"I lived in a small apartment in New York City, and this is ideal for somebody who needs to fit a pet crate in a small space," Milla says. "It's multifunctional."

The "studio" crate ($390) can house a dog up to 20 pounds; the "loft" ($575) is for dogs that weigh up to 50 pounds, and at 23 inches high, it's tall enough to make a nice coffee table. Both crates feature a lockable, sliding pocket door. They also come with a choice of reversible fitted cushions — lime green/mocha or orange/charcoal.

"People invest so much money in home and furnishings these days," Milla says, "so why would you want something unattractive in your kitchen like a pet cage?"